Packaged door assembly



March 15, 1966 J. H. PARKER PACKAGED DOOR ASSEMBLY R 1 m 7 NR 6 E 6 4 A P H 8 may M 5 3 0 J Filed Feb. 26, 1964 FIG. 4.

March 15, 1966 J. H. PARKER PACKAGED DOOR ASSEMBLY 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Filed Feb. 26, 1964 INVENTOR JOHN H. PARKER ATTORNEYS- March 15, 19% J. H. PARKER PACKAGED DOOR ASSEMBLY 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 26, 1964 INVENTOR JOHN H. PARKER ATTOR EYS United States Patent Office Patented Mar. 15, 1966 3,239,978 PACKAGED DOOR ASSEMBLY .l'ohn Herbert Parker, 1146 W. Hilton, Phoenix, Ariz. Filed Feb. 26, 1964, Ser. No. 347,518 2 Claims. ((11. 52-211) This invention relates to a packaged door assembly, constituting an improvement over my previously granted Patent No. 3,060,522, and is a continuation-in-part of application Serial No. 219,337, filed August 23, 1962.

In the prefabrication of packaged door assemblies, it has heretofore been necessary to manufacture and stock both right hand and left hand door assemblies, to accommodate the needs of the construction industry. It is the principal object of the present invention to provide a no hands packaged door assembly, that is a complete shop-hung unit, selectively adaptable for use in installing either a right hand or left hand door assembly.

Other objects are to provide a prefabricated door assembly of the character described, which reduces inventory stocking, avoids customer confusion in ordering prefabricated door assemblies, and saves the expense of tooling changes heretofore required to convert the direction of opening of the door.

Further objects are to provide a no hands door assembly, including jamb units and a header, the former being mitered at both ends to permit optional use thereof at either side of the door frame, one of the mitered ends of each jamb unit being engaged with a complementally mitered terminal of the header; to provide a packaged door assembly of the character described including means for adapting the jamb units for use on either side of the door frame; to provide miter clips on each end of the jamb units selectively engageable with the upper terminal of the header, effecting a tight miter joint; and to provide a packaged door assembly which may be readily installed in a few minutes time, with simple tools, by an unskilled laborer.

Other objects of the invention will be manifest from the following description of the present preferred form of the invention, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the component parts of the packaged door of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of a jamb unit frame member, showing to advantage a miter clip forming a part of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of one terminal of a jamb unit frame member, showing to advantage the filler block forming a part of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a pressure screw unit forming a part of the present invention, illustrating its application;

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the lower portions of the jamb units adapted, illustrating the manner of modifying the mitered portions thereof in actual use;

FIG. 6 is a front plan view of a door frame installation constructed with the door assembly of the present invention, illustrating the adaptation thereof for a left hand door, the door being omitted, in order to show details of construction;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6, illustrating the adaptation of the packaged door assembly of the present invention for use as a right hand door;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the lines 8-45 of FIG. 6, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 9 is a front elevational view, partly in section, illustrating the packaged door assembly of the present invention in partially assembled position, with the outer casing members removed in order to disclose details of construction; and

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9, showing the door frame completely assembled.

Referring now in greater detail to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1, a prefabricated door assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention, which includes a hinge jamb unit 15, a strike jamb unit 16, a header unit 17, and a door 18. Hinge jamb unit includes a frame member 19, one terminal of which is mitered at Ztl, and the other terminal of which is mitered at 21. A door stop 22 is conventionally mounted on one face of frame member 19, one terminal of which is mitered at 2?, the other terminal of which is mitered at 24. The terminals of stop 22 are provided with slots 25 and 26 shown to advantage in FIGS. 1, 3, 9 and 10, the function of which slots will be hereinafter more fully set out.

In accordance with the present invention, there are provided a pair of adjustment members 27, one adjacent each end of the frame, for which purpose an opening 28 is provided, extended through stop 22 and frame mem ber 19. As shown in FIG. 4, each adjustment member includes an internally threaded T-nut 29, one terminal of which is provided with a flange 36, portions of the outer periphery of which are struck to provide barbs 31 adapted for engagement with the rear face of frame member 19 circumjacent opening 28. T-nut 29 is adapted for threaded engagement with a machine screw having a threaded shank 32, one terminal of which is enlarged to provide a fiat head 33. The opposite end of shank 32 is provided with a kerf 34 for adjusting the position of the machine screw with respect to the T-nut. A plug 35 is provided for insertion in opening 23 as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4.

The terminals of frame member 19 are provided with miter clips 36 and 37 respectively, both of which are substantially coextensive with the Width of the frame member, as shown to advantage in FIGS. 2 and 3. Miter clip 36 includes a body portion 38 in flush engagement with the rear face of frame member 19 and is secured thereto by suitable means 39. The upper portion of clip at extending beyond the upper limit of frame member 19 is bent inwardly and downwardly to provide a resilient angular portion 4ft which terminates in a slight reverse curve 41. Miter clip 37 is identical in construction to miter clip 36 and includes a body portion 42, a securing means 43, a resilient angular portion 44 having a terminal reverse curve 45. A salient portion of the present invention is the provision of a removable filler block 46 adapted for selective engagement with angular portion 49 of miter clip 36 or angular portion 44 of miter clip 37. Filler block 46 is preferably of isosceles triangular shape in cross section, and is coextensive with frame member 19. The long side 47 of the triangular filler block is complemental to miter 2t and 21 of frame member 19 and is provided with a longitudinal slot 48, coextensive with the length of the block, which slot is adapted to receive resilient angular portion of miter clip 36 or resilient angular portion 44 of miter clip 37. Retention of filler block 46 is effected by means of :a flat retaining strap 49, one end of which is adapted for selective insertion into slot 25 or 26 at the terminals of door stop 22. One terminal of retaining strap 49 is bent at right angles to provide a support 50 for the bottom of block 46. Lateral extremities of support 50 are struck up to provide barbs 51 adapted to be driven into filler block 46 to prevent accidental displacement of the latter.

Conventional hinges are suitably fixed to frame 19 in spaced relation, as shown at 52. The lateral margins of frame member 19 are provided with longitudinal grooves 53 and 54. Longitudinal groove 53 is adapted to receive a complemental tongue 55 of a casing 56. The terminals of casing 56 are similarly mitered as indicated at 57 and 58. Groove 54 is adapted to receive the tongue 59 of a casing 69 which is similar in size to casing 56, the opposite terminals of which are also mitered, as indicated at 61 and 62.

Strike jamb unit 16 is basically similar in construction to hinge jamb unit 15 and accordingly, like parts are identified by like, primed numbers. Particular attention is called to the fact that no adjustment members are provided in strike jamb unit 16. In accordance with the present invention, a pair of shimming blocks 63 and 64 are secured to the rear face of frame member 19'. Shimming block 63 is located adjacent miter clip 36 and ishimming block 64 is located adjacent miter clip 37.

Header unit 17 includes a frame member 65', the lateral edges of which are mitered at 66 and 67 respectively, to complement the mitered terminals of jamb units 15 and 16. A door stop 68 extends longitudinally of the front face of frame member 65, the lateral margins of which are also mitered at 69 and 7e for engagement with the mitered edges of hinge and jamb unit door stops 22 and 22'. The longitudinal edges of frame member 65 are provided with grooves, one of which is adapted to receive a tongue 71 of a casing 72 having mitered terminals 73 and 74 respectively. The opposite groove is adapted for the reception of a tongue 75 of a casing 76, the terminals of which are mitered at 77 and 78.

Door 18 includes conventional hinges 79 adapted for interengagement with hinges 52 of hinge jamb unit 15, by means of pintles 80.

The assembly of the present invention is used in connection with a roughed out door frame opening, shown to advantage in FIGS. 6 to and including vertical studs 81 and 82, and horizontal studs 83 and 84'. A well structure is indicated at 85.

The packaged door assembly illustrated in FIG. 1 is equipped for a left hand door. If such a door is desired, straps 4-9, 49 are fixedly secured to filler blocks 46, 46 by driving barbs 51, 51 of support 50, 56 into the bottom of the blocks. That portion of mitered terminals 58, 58' and 62, 62 of casings 56, 5'6 and 60, 69 that extend below block 46, 4-6 are sawed off, as illustrated to advantage in FIG. 5. The assembly is then installed in the roughed out door frame opening by slipping the hinge jamb unit, then the header unit and finally, the strike jamb unit into the opening, so that upturned terminals 41, 41 of miter clips 36, 36, engage the upper limits of header unit 17, as illustrated to advantage in FIG. 9. Adjustment members 27 are then tightened so that flat heads 33 thereof engage vertical studs 81, resulting in movement of jamb unit in the direction of jamb unit 16. Jamb unit 16 is maintained in stationary position by virtue of contiguous engagement of shimming blocks 63 and 64 with vertical stud 82 of the roughed out frame opening. By virtue of the mitered adjacent terminals of the jamb units and header unit, the latter is forced up- Wardly against the tension of yicldable portions 40, until the miters member exactly, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 10.

Door 18 is next hung on hinge jamb unit 15 and the jamb units are manipulated until there is proper reveal between the door and the frame. The assembly is next afiixed permanently in place by nailing through the casing of the various units, into the studs in any desired manner. By virtue of the tongue and groove engagement of the casings and frame members of the jamb units and header unit, the casing tongues may be eased in and out of its groove to compensate for variations in wall thickness. Door 18 is then closed and the door stop of the units tapped back or forth to suit the conformation of the door to compensate for any slight wind in the opening or in the door. Installation is completed by insertion of plugs 35 into openings 28.

If it is desired to install a right hand door, straps 49, 49 and filler blocks 46, 46 are removed from the position shown in FIG. 1 and are placed on the opposite end, so that sides 47, 47' engage mitered terminals 20, 20 of sides from that illustrated in FIG. 1.

frames 19, 19' and straps 49, 49 are inserted into slots 25, 25. Miter terminals 57, 57 and 61, 61 of casings 56, 56, 60 and 60' are then sawed off beyond filler blocks 46, 46'. In asembling the door frame, the jamb units 15 and 16 are turned upside down and on the opposite The assembly is then installed in the same manner as set out above in connection with the left hand door unit, so that the finished assembly appears as illustrated in FIG. 7.

While there has been herein shown and described the preferred construction of the packaged door assembly of the present invention, certain changes may be made therein, to accommodate the needs of a particular installation. For example, the distance between the lower terminal of the door and the floor level may be varied by lengthening or shortening the filler block or by removing the filler block altogether, and cutting off the mitered terminals of the jam-b units adjacent the floor.

With the assembly of the present invention, a universal prefabricated door assembly is provided, resulting in a greater economy of manufacture, a reduction in inventory stocking, and ease in ordering and in filling orders. The assembly of the present invention may be readily installed in a minimum amount of time, with a hammer and screwdriver, and by unskilled labor.

Various changes may be made in the invention, without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims hereto appended.

What is claimed is:

1. A packaged door assembly for installation in a conventional rough door frame of a wall opening, the assembly comprising a pair of jamb units and a header, the jamb units embodying a hinge jamb unit and a strike jamb unit being adapted for vertical positioning in parallel relation to the sides of the door frame and the header spanning the upper ends of the jamb units, each of said jamb units and header including a frame member and casings interengaged with the lateral extremities thereof, both terminals of the frame member and casings of the header being mitered, the opposite terminals of the frame member and casings of the hinge jamb unit and strike jamb unit being complement-ally mitered, for selective contiguous engagement with the miters of said header, to permit use of said strike jamb unit and hinge jamb unit on either side of the door frame, miter clips carried by each terminal of both jamb units, each miter clip including a stationary body portion in flush engagement with the rear face of the frames of said jamb units, the upper portion of the miter clip being bent inwardly to provide a resilient angular portion, one miter clip of each jamb unit being adapted for engagement with the rear face of said header, and a filler block removably connected to the mitered surface of each jamb unit remote from said header, the filler block being substantially coextensive with the width of each jamb unit and of triangular cross section, with one side thereof in contiguous engagement With the mitered surface of the jamb unit, which side is longitudinally slotted for the reception of the resilient angular portion of the adjacent miter clip, and means for preventing displacement of said filler block.

2. The packaged door assembly of claim 1, wherein said means includes a strap, one end of which is bent to provide a support having retaining members engaged with said filler block, the free end of said strap being received in a complemental recess of said jamb unit.

References tilted by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,080,555 5/1937 Beil et a1. 20-1l 2,481,721 9/1949 Carper 20l2 2,799,370 7/1957 Sklar 18946 2,816,632 12/1957 Nardulli 189-76 3,060,522 10/1962 Parker 20l1 HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner. 

1. A PACKAGED DOOR ASSEMBLY FOR INSTALLATION IN A CONVENTIONAL ROUGH DOOR FRAME OF A WALL OPENING, THE ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A PAIR OF JAMB UNITS AND A HEADER, THE JAMB UNITS EMBODYING A HINGE JAMB UNIT AND A STRIKE JAMB UNIT BEING ADAPTED FOR VERTICAL POSITIONING IN PARALLEL RELATION TO THE SIDES OF THE DOOR FRAME AND THE HEADER SPANNING THE UPPER ENDS OF THE JAMB UNITS, EACH OF SAID JAMB UNITS AND HEADER INCLUDING A FRAME MEMBER AND CASINGS INTERENGAGED WITH THE LATERAL EXTREMITIES THEREOF, BOTH TERMINALS OF THE FRAME MEMBER AND CASINGS OF THE HEADER BEING MITERED, THE OPPOSITE TERMINALS OF THE FRAME MEMBER AND CASINGS OF THE HINGE JAMB UNIT AND STRIKE JAMB UNIT BEING COMPLEMENTARY MITERED, FOR SELECTIVE CONTIGUOUS ENGAGEMENT WITH THE MITERS OF SAID HEADER, TO PERMIT USE OF SAID STRIKE JAMB UNIT AND HINGE JAMB UNIT ON EITHER SIDE OF THE DOOR FRAME, MITER CLIPS CARRIED BY EACH TERMINAL OF BOTH JAMB UNITS, EACH MITER CLIP INCLUDING A STATIONARY BODY PORTION IN FLUSH ENGAGEMENT WITH THE REAR FACE OF THE FRAMES OF SAID JAMB UNITS, THE UPPER PORTION OF THE MITER CLIP BEING BENT INWARDLY TO PROVIDE A RESILIENT ANGULAR PORTION, ONE MITER CLIP OF EACH JAMB UNIT BEING ADAPTED FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH THE REAR FACE OF SAID HEADER, AND A FILLER BLOCK REMOVABLY CONNECTED TO THE MITERED SURFACE OF EACH JAMB UNIT REMOTE FROM SAID HEADER, THE FILLER BLOCK BEING SUBSTANTIALLY COEXTENSIVE WITH THE WIDTH OF EACH JAMB UNIT AND OF TRIANGULAR CROSS SECTION, WITH ONE SIDE THEREOF IN CONTIGUOUS ENGAGEMENT WITH THE MITERED SURFACE OF THE JAMB UNIT, WHICH SIDE IS LONGITUDINALLY SLOTTED FOR THE RECEPTION OF THE RESILIENT ANGULAR PORTION OF THE ADJACENT MITER CLIP, AND MEANS FOR PREVENTING DISPLACEMENT OF SAID FILLER BLOCK. 